“We have had some of the most mind blowing, heart changing experiences that will be absolutely impossible to forget” — Audra Thurman (student)

WHAT IS PEPY TOURS?

WHAT MAKES PEPY TOURS DIFFERENT?

WHAT CAN YOUR STUDENTS LEARN?

WHAT CAN YOUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE?

DOES THE PEPY TOURS TEAM PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH?

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Contents

REFERENCE LETTER FROM AN INSTRUCTOR

WHAT IS PEPY TOURS?PEPY Tours is a grass-roots social enterprise providing facilitated learning adventures throughout Cambodia. Our vision is that travel should be educational, adventurous and fun, but also benefit local communities. Our school and university programs encourage both young people and faculty members to explore issues of community development, cultural sensitivity, and global citizenship while helping to fund the youth-empowerment programs provided by our sister non-profit, PEPY Cambodia. Through a comprehensive curriculum of discussion, debate, analysis, and adventure, PEPY Tours enables participants to discover the hidden corners of this charismatic Kingdom while reflecting on how we can all live, travel, and give more responsibly.

WHAT MAKES PEPY TOURS DIFFERENT?

GIVING BACKPEPY Tours coined the term “learning service”, the idea that we have to learn before we can help. Our trips provide this opportunity.

Innovation

As one of Cambodia’s first educational travel organizations, we have raised the bar in global development education offerings

LearningWith one of the highest number of NGOs per capita, Cambodia presents an ideal environment to explore the complexity of aid by engaging with development programs and social entrepreneurs

SupportOur two-tiered fee funds educational programs in rural Cambodia, with over $500,000 raised directly from tours to date

experienceOver 6 years of educational adventure experience means we understand the specific needs of student groups in both formal environments and informal experiential settings

ExplorationWhile the temples draw over a million visitors a year, the rest of the country remains largely untouched by tourism – take the road less traveled!

StaffOur experienced Khmer and foreign educators deliver an organized curriculum and facilitate debates and discussions, as well as take care of all the travel logistics

FUNFun is key to experiential education. We understand that learning is easy in a fun and dynamic environment.

WHAT CAN YOUR STUDENTS LEARN?

Khmer Rouge trials: debating the consequences for both Cambodia and international human rights

Over to you: we can provide a Cambodia-general or subject-specific curriculum – you choose!

comfort zones: how facing challenges can lead to learning

The basics of Buddhism: practices, festivals, and why monks wear orange robes

Cambodian history: the glory of the ancient empire to the torments of the 21st century

Responsible travel:

the implications of our travel choices; being an ambassador

Education:

the challenges of making this basic human right accessible to all; what makes a school a place of learning?

POVERTY: understanding the causes, confronting our ‘guilt’, and evaluating the options

Responsible giving:

reflecting on how and why we should be discerning with donations

Voluntourism: the importance of “learning service” versus “service learning”

WHAT CAN YOUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE?

A fallen empire:

explore the mighty ancient temple cities and remote jungle ruins

Development Programs: engage with our partner NGOs to learn about sustainable development projects including environmental and education programs

The big city: the vibrant capital, Phnom Penh is a city of contrasts – dive into the hustle and bustle or find tranquility in the pagodas or palace grounds

On your bike: see the country at the local speed and explore the coun-tryside on two wheels. This could be an afternoon bike ride or a multiday excursion

MORE:barter at the markets, cook local cuisine, ride the bamboo train, pick up basic Khmer, learn local crafts - the possibilities are endless…

The Mighty Mekong: the lifeblood of Asia, dotted with serene islands and fishermen’s boats. Learn about the preservation of the Irrawaddi Dolphin and other environmental initiatives

Out of town:

get off the beaten track with a rural homestay: friendly communities, traditional hospitality, and Khmer cuisine - a real glimpse into Cambodian family life

On your bike: see the country at the local speed and explore the coun-tryside on two wheels. This could be an afternoon bike ride or a multiday excursion

4. INVEST IN DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES BY:

DOES THE PEPY TOURS TEAM PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH?

Yes! We aim to:

1. SUPPORT THE LOCAL ECONOMY BY:

2. INSPIRE CHANGE BY:

3. MINIMIZE OUR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT BY:

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partnering with community-based ecotourism projects and utilizing our support network to increase their exposure

hiring local services and sourcing from locally-owned and socially responsible suppliers where possible

connecting participants with ideas, groups, and tools necessary to affect positive change not only in Cambodia, but also in their home communities

investing in employees’ futures by providing higher education scholarships, as well as training and seminars

committing to environmentally responsible decisions in our office energy usage, transportation, and tour planning

working with organizations that are supporting the local environment

directly funding the educational and youth empowerment programs of our sister non-profit, PEPY Cambodia

partnering with, funding, and increasing the exposure of innovative projects that meet high sustainability and trans-parency standards

To Whom It May Concern,

It is my pleasure to recommend PEPY Tours to any school or any other educational institution. I have been fortunate to lead students abroad many times for the purpose of learning about other cultures and to “make a difference” through some form of service. Such experiences are always educational and rewarding. Worldviews are broadened, perspective is gained, new appreciation is discovered, and dreams begin to take shape.

I expected much of the same coming to Cambodia. It wasn’t until working with PEPY Tours though that my eyes were opened to a broader lesson on responsible service that we were missing on our previous experiences. PEPY Tours not only shared the beauty, history, and culture of Cambodia, but they helped fill a major gap in our understanding of the impact we make, the need to learn responsible service, and the importance of education and empowerment.

I felt personally challenged and truly inspired for the first time in a long time and I am taking so much away from this trip, not just about how to more responsibly plan future learning experiences and to evaluate programs more fully, but also how to be a better leader. From this trip I gained a renewed passion for investing in the lives of students, and had an opportunity for personal reflection on how and in what I invest myself. PEPY Tours challenged our thinking and inspired us to come alive and make a difference in our little corner of the world. It was a remarkable journey for me and my students and I couldn't recommend anyone a better experience or a better team with which to share the journey.

Best regards,

Kendra CampbellDirector of First Year ExperienceWest Texas A&M University

www.pepytours.comlearning@pepytours.com

PEPY ToursPO Box 93220GPO Siem Reap AngkorCambodia

Skype: PEPYTours+(855) 63 690 6081

“…we came away from this experience with a global perspective to help guide us with our future choices. The PEPY Tours leaders were inspiring, knowledgeable, organized, gracious, and receptive. They are without a doubt experts in this field and at the top of their game”

— Kathy Millar Teacher at Evergreen Community Charter School NC, USA